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Mayor praises staff for WAM efforts

Jul 18, 2013 - By Alejandra Silva, Staff Writer

The four-day convention invited state elected officials for workshops and informational meetings.

Riverton city secretary Kristin Watson was praised for her work at the four-day Wyoming Association of Municipalities convention that ended June 16.

The convention invited state elected officials for workshops and informational meetings while also incorporating family-friendly activities. Watson helped make sure all sessions moved smoothly and the convention was a success.

"With the help of all the city employees, Riverton High School, Central Wyoming College and community members, it was a success," she said. "I thank them for their support. I was glad to be a part of it."

During the council meeting June 25, Mayor Ron Warpness congratulated Watson with a gift, said she did an "outstanding job," and described her work with the rest of the staff as a great "team effort."

He called city administrator Steven Weaver the coach, administrative services director Courtney V. Bohlender the captain and Watson the most valuable player.

"(She put) countless hours in on that project," he said. "She, especially, was on point."

Convention revenue

During the city council meeting July 2, Bohlender reported to the council and mayor that the city received roughly $23,000 in sponsorships and roughly $10,000 in in-kind donations, including $3,000 from Fremont County School District 25 and items donated by Pepsi and Sweetwater Garden. She added that in 2006, the city spent more than $80,000 for the same convention and this year only about $28,000 was spent.

"It's things like that that you can't count on, but what we can count on in this community is the partnerships and the reciprocity that we have felt," Bohlender said. "The message we can send is, 'Get your community involved, show off you community and you can break even and you can still have a very successful event.'"